UK's THE CAR MAN Announces Full Cast, Including Jonathan Ollivier

New Adventures are delighted to announce the cast for the internationally acclaimed and multi-award winning dance thriller "THE CAR MAN" for a limited 16 week UK tour. The tour opens at the Churchill Theatre, Bromley on 16 April 2015, ending with a four week summer season at Sadler's Wells from 14 July to 9 August 2015. This revival marks the first time the production has been staged in eight years. Full tour schedule below.

The leading characters created by Matthew Bourne for "THE CAR MAN" are among his most challenging both physically and emotionally. For this revival a new generation of New Adventures' stars will be making their debuts in these iconic roles.

The title role of 'Luca, The Car Man', will be played by JONATHAN OLLIVIER and CHRIS TRENFIELD; both recently acclaimed as 'The Swan' in Bourne's "Swan Lake". The role of 'Lana' will be danced by ASHLEY SHAW (currently enjoying great success as 'Kim' in "Edward Scissorhands") and ZIZI STRALLEN, who joins us direct from the West End production of "Cats". Zizi was last seen with New Adventures in "Cinderella" in 2011. 'Rita', Lana's older sister, will be performed by KATY LOWENHOFF (also currently starring as 'Kim' in "Edward Scissorhands") and KATE LYONS (Bourne's "Sleeping Beauty", "Early Adventures"). The demanding role of 'Angelo' will be shared by rising company star, LIAM MOWER, and one of New Adventures most popular leading men, DOMINIC NORTH. Dominic and Liam have both been receiving rave reviews for their moving performances as the title character in New Adventures' "Edward Scissorhands" on its current UK Tour.

"THE CAR MAN" fans will be delighted to hear that the original 'Car Man', ALAN VINCENTwill be returning to the company to play Lana's violent husband, 'Dino'. Completing a stellar cast, as the inhabitants of the fateful small town of Harmony USA are CORDELIA BRAITHWAITE, TOM CLARK, DANNY COLLINS, PIA DRIVER, FREYA FIELD, GLENN GRAHAM, TIM HODGES, KATRINA LYNDON, ANDREW MONAGHAN, LEON MORAN, DANNY REUBENS, KATIE WEBB, LAYTON WILLIAMS and DAN WRIGHT.

Loosely based on Bizet's popular opera; it has one of the most thrilling and instantly recognisable scores in New Adventures' repertory, featuring Schedrin's powerful Carmen Suite and new arrangements of Bizet's legendary score, by New Adventures Associate Artist, Terry Davies.

"THE CAR MAN" was first seen in 2000, winning the Evening Standard Award for 'Musical Event of the Year' and the Los Angeles Drama Critics Award for 'Best Choreography.'

The familiar 19th Century Spanish cigarette factory becomes a greasy garage-diner in 1960's America where the dreams and passions of a small-town are shattered by the arrival of a handsome stranger. Fuelled by heat and desire, the inhabitants are driven into an unstoppable spiral of greed, lust, betrayal and revenge. Inspired by classic European and American Film Noir cinema and the Pulp Fiction novels of James M. Cain and Raymond Chandler; Lez Brotherston's epic design, Chris Davey's evocative lighting and Matthew Bourne's vivid storytelling, create a dangerous and uncompromising vision of small-town America.

"THE CAR MAN" follows the phenomenal world-wide success of Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker!, Cinderella and Edward Scissorhands; from the UK's most popular dance theatre company.

"THE CAR MAN" is directed and choreographed by Matthew Bourne, with music by Terry Davies & Rodion Shchedrin's Carmen Suite (after Bizet's Carmen); designs by Lez Brotherston; lighting by Chris Davey and sound by Paul Groothius. The project is supported by Arts Council England through the Grants for the Arts funding programme.

To post a comment, you must register and login.